JustBeingCP

To say that I am disappointed that Ledbury railway station in Herefordshire won’t be getting ” step free” access and other stations in the region will be getting it is an understatement.

Those reading this will know that, the disabled community currently have to travel from Hereford to Colwall station and change trains there when trying to visit Ledbury by rail.

Earlier this week it was announced that ” Wellington Station” in Shropshire would benefit from access for all funding, meaning that they will be able to make improvements to the station so that it can become accessible to all.

Something needs to be done at Ledbury station so that our (the disabled) community can travel with ease to the market town (Ledbury) by rail without fear of experiencing anymore accessible travel challenges.

In recent months I have spoken to the accessibility team at the now publicly funded rail operator, West Midlands Railway about the possibility of installing a waiting space and signage on the accessible platform at the station.

The blue and white boxes which feature a white wheelchair logo and the words ” for mobility assistance, please wait here” along with signage positioned near to where the space would be located on the platform is an ideal solution.

This would give those with disabilities or mobility issues somewhere safe to wait on the platform whilst waiting trains back into Hereford, signage would give train crew a point of reference to head for when assisting passengers on to train’s.

My message to the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP and the Minister for Rail and HS2, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE remains the same from January the 21st this year and is this, “if the likes of Dunblane railway station near Stirling in central Scotland can become step free after many years of it not then why can’t a solution be found for Ledbury station in Herefordshire”.

” Even Tile Hill railway station near Coventry has step free access throughout the station thanks in large part to a ramp behind the stairwell to the stations footbridge meaning that passengers with disabilities or mobility issues are able to exit the station with ease from the ticket office side.”

” It is time that a footbridge is installed at the station in Ledbury so that both platforms are fully accessible to all and we don’t have to waste any time in travelling up the railway line to Colwall and change trains there, arriving into the market town (Ledbury) by rail on the westbound side of the station”.

” Please do not wait the next 5 or 10 years to reverse this disgusting decision which should not have even been made in the first place by you and your departmental officials at the Department for Transport”

Ledbury’s disabled community should have a railway station in the town that is completely accessible for them in 2026, as I have mentioned previously ” access for all” funded is needed for the station to be improved and shouldn’t have been taken away by the Department for Transport after being promised.

However it is important to note that those who require assistance to board trains at Wellington Station in Shropshire are set to benefit from a fully accessible railway station in the not to distant future, which is of course brilliant to see.

Finally, it is time that the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister recognise that they made a massive mistake in removing the funding, it needs to be reinstated as soon as possible so that planning for station improvements can begin in Ledbury as soon as possible.

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Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the incredible team at WMR who have gone above and beyond in recent years to ensure that rail passengers who have disabilities or mobility issues can travel around the rail network in the region with confidence and ease.

Your hard work and dedication to the cause has not gone unnoticed and is as always very much appreciated.

A thank you must also go to each and everyone of you, my loyal readers and social media followers who continually take the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest posts, it does not go unnoticed and is very much appreciated.

Cam